{"id":"mixelpixx-kicad-mcp-server","name":"KiCAD-MCP-Server","homepage":null,"repo_url":"https://github.com/mixelpixx/KiCAD-MCP-Server","category":"devtools","subcategories":[],"tags":["mcp","kicad","pcb-design","schematic","routing","automation","python"],"what_it_does":"KiCAD-MCP-Server is an MCP (Model Context Protocol) server implemented in Python that lets AI assistants control KiCad for PCB design automation. It exposes a large set of MCP tools for schematic creation/wiring, PCB/board operations, routing, exports, and project state resources, with dynamic discovery and schema validation.","use_cases":["AI-assisted schematic drafting (component placement, pin discovery, wiring, net labels)","AI-assisted PCB board setup (board outline, layers, mounting holes, zones)","AI-assisted routing (trace/via routing, pad-to-pad routing, differential pairs)","Project inspection and state retrieval for iterative design workflows","Export automation (e.g., Gerber/snapshots) and design checkpointing","Integration with external parts catalogs (JLCPCB) for component selection"],"not_for":["Security-sensitive remote usage without appropriate sandboxing and access controls","High-assurance design verification where independent EDA checks are required","Environments that require OAuth-style centralized auth or strict enterprise policy enforcement"],"best_when":"Used locally or in a controlled environment where an MCP client (e.g., Claude Desktop) can safely operate a KiCad workspace and where AI-driven iteration speeds up PCB/schematic generation.","avoid_when":"Avoid exposing it as a network-accessible service to untrusted users/agents without strong operational isolation, because it can modify local project files and uses experimental UI synchronization backends.","alternatives":["KiCad-native scripting (Python scripting via KiCad’s APIs/CLI tools)","Other MCP tool servers or agent frameworks that wrap KiCad automation (if available)","Workflow automation using KiCad command-line exporters plus separate schematic/board generation scripts"],"af_score":65.2,"security_score":35.2,"reliability_score":35.0,"package_type":"mcp_server","discovery_source":["github"],"priority":"high","status":"evaluated","version_evaluated":null,"last_evaluated":"2026-03-30T13:27:16.742392+00:00","interface":{"has_rest_api":false,"has_graphql":false,"has_grpc":false,"has_mcp_server":true,"mcp_server_url":null,"has_sdk":false,"sdk_languages":[],"openapi_spec_url":null,"webhooks":false},"auth":{"methods":["MCP client capability negotiation (implied by MCP JSON-RPC 2.0 compliance)"],"oauth":false,"scopes":false,"notes":"No auth mechanism (API keys/OAuth) is described in the provided README content; MCP clients typically connect via local desktop integration. This evaluation therefore assumes authentication/authorization is not a primary concern in the documented interface."},"pricing":{"model":null,"free_tier_exists":false,"free_tier_limits":null,"paid_tiers":[],"requires_credit_card":false,"estimated_workload_costs":null,"notes":"Open-source tooling; no pricing information provided."},"requirements":{"requires_signup":false,"requires_credit_card":false,"domain_verification":false,"data_residency":[],"compliance":[],"min_contract":null},"agent_readiness":{"af_score":65.2,"security_score":35.2,"reliability_score":35.0,"mcp_server_quality":85.0,"documentation_accuracy":65.0,"error_message_quality":0.0,"error_message_notes":null,"auth_complexity":95.0,"rate_limit_clarity":10.0,"tls_enforcement":30.0,"auth_strength":20.0,"scope_granularity":10.0,"dependency_hygiene":55.0,"secret_handling":70.0,"security_notes":"No authentication/authorization model is described, so access control likely relies on local network/desktop integration assumptions. HTTPS/TLS requirements are not stated (TLS not applicable for local MCP in many deployments). README includes a privacy warning about session logs containing tool call history and file paths when DEV mode is enabled—this is a notable data-leak risk if logs are shared.","uptime_documented":0.0,"version_stability":55.0,"breaking_changes_history":40.0,"error_recovery":45.0,"idempotency_support":"false","idempotency_notes":"No explicit idempotency guarantees are described. Many tools appear to mutate project state (place/add/snapshot/route), so repeated calls could duplicate or alter designs unless the client checks preconditions.","pagination_style":"none","retry_guidance_documented":false,"known_agent_gotchas":["Tools likely mutate KiCad project state; agents should use project snapshots and/or perform checks before re-running.","Dynamic symbol loading and IPC backend are mentioned as complex/experimental areas; behavior may vary by KiCad version and environment.","Session logs (when DEV mode is enabled) can contain sensitive file paths/design details."]}}